bill_gussman

<p>Santa brought me a wi-fi adapter for my 7DII. I noticed when I connect it with my smartphone to view in livemode the camera's lcd screen stays off. When I pair it with the computer the liveview screen on the camera comes on. Any way to NOT have the lcd screen come on when paired with the computer?<br> Thanks and Merry Christmas,<br> Bill</p>

<p>I happen to shoot Canon so I don't know what Nikon bodies you listed are full frame or possibly crop cameras. I have been 3 times and here's what has worked for me whether in Tanzania or Kruger in South Africa. A crop body camera with a 500 using a 1.4 extender at times. Many places you can't go off road to get closer so the more lens you have the better, not to mentions birds where it seems you never have enough lens. <br> Often the animals come very close so I used a crop body with the 70-200. I sometimes used a 1.4 extender on it too.<br> A third full frame body with the 24-70 is very nice for scenery shots or photos capturing other people in the vehicle with animals in the background.<br> It can be very dusty with red dirt. I found a pillow case for each set up helped to lessen the problem. <br> If you're doing the Land Rover "thing" a clamp grip for attaching to a grab rail with ball head and something like a sidekick worked great for times you're parked for long periods waiting for or capturing action with a long lens. With that set-up you can also feel safe about not knocking your camera off the bean bag. I took a bean bag too and happened to use rice as a filler.<br> I am returning to Kruger in May and have changed my gear somewhat with the addition of a 100-400 to replace the 70-200 and a 600 instead of the 500 but the other set up certainly got me by.<br> Try to find out if the in-country airlines you fly are being picky about the carry-on weight. I managed to fit all my gear in an international size roller carry on but the weight was way over. Luckily I avoided the scale!</p>

<p>I have found that a beanbag sitting on the door jam is too low and I have to scrunch down to see through the viewfinder. (Especially for birds in trees). I attached my ballhead with sidekick to a piece of plywood cut to the same size as the top of the beanbag. That brings the level of the viewfinder comfortably up to eyelevel and the sidekick with its flexibility is nice too. Mostly used with a 500/4.</p>

<p>Interesting you should mention winterizing the camera. When I shoot telephoto it's usually with a 7D and it has a grip so the battery power has never been an issue. When it was way below zero it seemed my 500/4 was not tack sharp like it usually is. It concerned me enough that I took it into Canon and had it checked out. They said it was spot on and indeed has taken excellent photos since that one experience. The shots I wasn't pleased about were of some big horn sheep on the side of a cliff standing still. The lens was on a Gitzo tripod with a Wimberley mount using a high shutter speed and a remote shutter release so I don't think technique was the problem. The extreme cold and going in and out of my warmer truck could have had some effect on the focus I suppose.<br> If you go to the Tetons you might try the road to Kelly passing the town and turning right up the road at Warm Springs toward the Gros Ventre slide. It's paved all the way to the slide turnout and has some pretty red rock cliffs. There were some lions back there last winter. You never know!</p>

<p>Since it's the only road between Gardiner and Silver Gate/Cooke City the park service does its best to keep it plowed. I'm sure you'll have chains and I'd keep a tow strap handy as you'll likely find people spun out and stuck in a snow bank.<br> The long uphill section of road just past the high bridge out of Mammoth can be really icy since it's shaded all day and the weather can be clear in Mammoth and snowing like crazy in Cooke City at the same time.<br> I've got a couple of quick trip reports from winter visits if you're curious. It can be really hit or miss in the winter. <br> <a href="http://forums.yellowstone.net/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=9173">http://forums.yellowstone.net/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=9173</a><br> <a href="http://forums.yellowstone.net/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=15337">http://forums.yellowstone.net/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=15337</a><br> A bear encounter from this past spring.<br> <a href="http://forums.yellowstone.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=18991">http://forums.yellowstone.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=18991</a><br> Have a good trip,<br> Bill</p>

<p>We've made a winter trip a number of years now. We stay in Gardiner just outside the north entrance and usually stay at the Absaroka which is $60 night this winter. You can book a snowmobile trip from a couple of businesses that run out of Mammoth. We have done this only once and it was ok but difficult to really concentrate on photographing animals. If I remember correctly they can only stop in certain places.<br /> The other option as far as the northern part of the park is concerned is the road to Cooke City where spotting sheep, otters, eagles and wolves is hit or miss but certainly doable. Many people hike or cross country ski up the Tower Fall road.<br /> As far as the Tetons we usually stay in town at the Super 8 which really varies in price but have paid as low as $40 a night a few times. The Gros Ventre road into Kelly will sometimes turn up moose, coyotes, eagles and sage grouse. Moose-Wilson road is open to Death Canyon and you may get lucky and see a great gray owl. The area around Oxbow Bend will occasionally have otters popping their heads out of holes in the ice. Behind Miller Butte and the elk refuge the sheep graze on the hillside and of course elk on the refuge. As you know the south entrance is closed so you have to drive down the west side of the park to cross over Teton Pass into Jackson but it is a beautiful drive and for part of it you are inside the Yellowstone Park boundary.<br /> It's fun and beautiful but of course there are no bears!<br> I should add if you take the 89 south out of Jackson toward Alpine look for the mountain goats on the cliff sides as you get near Alpine.</p>